Check out some on-growing projects the Farm & Garden cultivated last year and learn about how these sustainability and regenerative practices planted the seeds for what we anticipate will be an abundant 2025.
Esalen’s gratitude for the Earth runs deep beneath the mineral-rich soil that grounds the sacred land we are fortunate to reside upon. Some aspects of this might be more obvious — the Farm & Garden and Esalen Kitchen feed seekers from guests to faculty and staff. We have successfully shifted our culture and committed to no longer using single-use plastics on property. The solar panels that decorate the Lodge rooftop and the behavioral switch of all to mindfully use our precious water both within accommodations and in shared spaces are valuable steps toward demonstrating our love for this fragile planet. But the roots of sustainability extend much deeper. Thinking holistically is key in our approach, and weaving these values throughout the landscape of what we do is much like a mycelial network.
Whether your stay at Esalen is a few months long or a weekend, leading a value-driven lifestyle has great potential to inspire a trickle-down effect and encourage our fellow seekers near and far to do the same. This spread of great environmental and planetary potential has been a part of the Esalen ethos since the organization’s inception in 1962.
So, what does this look like as Esalen continues to grow and transform? How do we (this includes you!) harness, organize, and elevate these pieces of the global puzzle to collectively make a deeper impact within the Esalen community and beyond?
The visible pieces surround our daily operations through the innovative Farm & Garden, our sustainably-minded kitchen, and the heart-forward CABinS teams. Perhaps lesser known are our growing educational opportunities weaved into our workshop programming here on property: our temporarily-paused, historic and signature Live Extended Education Program (LEEP) month-long and two-week offerings, our live workshops, our Wednesday Evening Programs, and our volunteer opportunities. Another piece of this foundational web includes our passionate staff members and the greater community we are connected to outside of Esalen.
Let’s dive into what the Farm & Garden team has been working on this past year. The Farm & Garden executed on a vision and cultivated the right system to bring abundance into a nourishing reality. What looked nearly barren in early 2023 is today a thriving Eden of greens — leaves, vines, vegetables, flowers, and fruits. In 2024, they produced over 1,200 lbs of zucchini, 1,200 lbs of kale, 600 lbs of onions, 100 lbs of pumpkins, and 1,400 lbs of lettuce. Each of these plants is hand-seeded into potting soil that is cultivated onsite from Esalen’s homemade compost. All of this delicious, sustainably grown food finds its way into Esalen’s kitchen to nourish you and all during your stay.
One exciting project you’ll see as you walk through the farm is the rehabilitated hoop house, a deceptively small space. The hoop house took months of dedicated work to revitalize into a productive veggie house. Once the space inside was cleared, a cover crop using peas and oats was added to naturally increase fertility. Our decade-strong practice of homemade compost was layered to offer rich organic nutrients. The team tilled the space with our new electric tractor! A drip irrigation system was installed to conserve water resources and landscaping cloth was applied to suppress weeds and retain water. Ongoing work, including new trellises to support healthy plant growth, still continues as well. Just this season alone, the healthy hoop house has generated over 1000 lbs of cucumbers, over 400 lbs of tomatoes, and over 30 lbs of basil, and the numbers continue to grow!
As mentioned, Esalen is, through an effort spearheaded by the head of the Farm & Garden, Candice Isphording, the proud new owner of an electric tractor! We were awarded match funding to purchase a Solectrac electric tractor. Utilizing an electric vehicle on our farm offers numerous benefits. With no petroleum-based exhaust, fields are fume free, creating a healthier environment for humans around the farm and healthier foods, too. Electric motors are more energy efficient, with fewer moving parts and lower maintenance costs. The tractor, much quieter than traditional diesel models, allows nature to thrive with less noise pollution, and it can be powered by renewable energy sources. This addition is a huge win for Esalen and the earth.
One final project that kept the Farm busy this past month was the repair of Esalen’s cobb bench. Originally created by Benjamin Fahrer, this beloved gathering spot truly has become, as the Farm & Garden staff lovingly refer to it, the “heart of the garden.” Cobb comes from harvesting natural material and forming it allowing it to cure over time and harden into structure.
This type of work is only possible when heart-driven and sustainably-minded people work together. Not only are they committed to planting, tending to, harvesting, and composting all of the beautiful fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers in our Farm & Garden, but also to sharing their extensive knowledge with others who find themselves in the fields. Candice, Becca Gallagher, James House, and Theresa Rardin all taught important lessons on sustainable farming when our first two cohorts of Environmental Stewardship LEEP students had their two-week service experience with the Farm & Garden.
Minimizing our impact and protecting the environment is key to reaching our highest human potential. To love the Earth is to love oneself. We have the ability to create positive change by making mindful decisions in how we interact with the world around us. Stay tuned to learn more about how other areas of Esalen are working to create positive change for our planet!
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Shelley Dearhart is head of community engagement and environmental sustainability initiatives at Esalen.
Check out some on-growing projects the Farm & Garden cultivated last year and learn about how these sustainability and regenerative practices planted the seeds for what we anticipate will be an abundant 2025.
Esalen’s gratitude for the Earth runs deep beneath the mineral-rich soil that grounds the sacred land we are fortunate to reside upon. Some aspects of this might be more obvious — the Farm & Garden and Esalen Kitchen feed seekers from guests to faculty and staff. We have successfully shifted our culture and committed to no longer using single-use plastics on property. The solar panels that decorate the Lodge rooftop and the behavioral switch of all to mindfully use our precious water both within accommodations and in shared spaces are valuable steps toward demonstrating our love for this fragile planet. But the roots of sustainability extend much deeper. Thinking holistically is key in our approach, and weaving these values throughout the landscape of what we do is much like a mycelial network.
Whether your stay at Esalen is a few months long or a weekend, leading a value-driven lifestyle has great potential to inspire a trickle-down effect and encourage our fellow seekers near and far to do the same. This spread of great environmental and planetary potential has been a part of the Esalen ethos since the organization’s inception in 1962.
So, what does this look like as Esalen continues to grow and transform? How do we (this includes you!) harness, organize, and elevate these pieces of the global puzzle to collectively make a deeper impact within the Esalen community and beyond?
The visible pieces surround our daily operations through the innovative Farm & Garden, our sustainably-minded kitchen, and the heart-forward CABinS teams. Perhaps lesser known are our growing educational opportunities weaved into our workshop programming here on property: our temporarily-paused, historic and signature Live Extended Education Program (LEEP) month-long and two-week offerings, our live workshops, our Wednesday Evening Programs, and our volunteer opportunities. Another piece of this foundational web includes our passionate staff members and the greater community we are connected to outside of Esalen.
Let’s dive into what the Farm & Garden team has been working on this past year. The Farm & Garden executed on a vision and cultivated the right system to bring abundance into a nourishing reality. What looked nearly barren in early 2023 is today a thriving Eden of greens — leaves, vines, vegetables, flowers, and fruits. In 2024, they produced over 1,200 lbs of zucchini, 1,200 lbs of kale, 600 lbs of onions, 100 lbs of pumpkins, and 1,400 lbs of lettuce. Each of these plants is hand-seeded into potting soil that is cultivated onsite from Esalen’s homemade compost. All of this delicious, sustainably grown food finds its way into Esalen’s kitchen to nourish you and all during your stay.
One exciting project you’ll see as you walk through the farm is the rehabilitated hoop house, a deceptively small space. The hoop house took months of dedicated work to revitalize into a productive veggie house. Once the space inside was cleared, a cover crop using peas and oats was added to naturally increase fertility. Our decade-strong practice of homemade compost was layered to offer rich organic nutrients. The team tilled the space with our new electric tractor! A drip irrigation system was installed to conserve water resources and landscaping cloth was applied to suppress weeds and retain water. Ongoing work, including new trellises to support healthy plant growth, still continues as well. Just this season alone, the healthy hoop house has generated over 1000 lbs of cucumbers, over 400 lbs of tomatoes, and over 30 lbs of basil, and the numbers continue to grow!
As mentioned, Esalen is, through an effort spearheaded by the head of the Farm & Garden, Candice Isphording, the proud new owner of an electric tractor! We were awarded match funding to purchase a Solectrac electric tractor. Utilizing an electric vehicle on our farm offers numerous benefits. With no petroleum-based exhaust, fields are fume free, creating a healthier environment for humans around the farm and healthier foods, too. Electric motors are more energy efficient, with fewer moving parts and lower maintenance costs. The tractor, much quieter than traditional diesel models, allows nature to thrive with less noise pollution, and it can be powered by renewable energy sources. This addition is a huge win for Esalen and the earth.
One final project that kept the Farm busy this past month was the repair of Esalen’s cobb bench. Originally created by Benjamin Fahrer, this beloved gathering spot truly has become, as the Farm & Garden staff lovingly refer to it, the “heart of the garden.” Cobb comes from harvesting natural material and forming it allowing it to cure over time and harden into structure.
This type of work is only possible when heart-driven and sustainably-minded people work together. Not only are they committed to planting, tending to, harvesting, and composting all of the beautiful fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers in our Farm & Garden, but also to sharing their extensive knowledge with others who find themselves in the fields. Candice, Becca Gallagher, James House, and Theresa Rardin all taught important lessons on sustainable farming when our first two cohorts of Environmental Stewardship LEEP students had their two-week service experience with the Farm & Garden.
Minimizing our impact and protecting the environment is key to reaching our highest human potential. To love the Earth is to love oneself. We have the ability to create positive change by making mindful decisions in how we interact with the world around us. Stay tuned to learn more about how other areas of Esalen are working to create positive change for our planet!
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Shelley Dearhart is head of community engagement and environmental sustainability initiatives at Esalen.
Check out some on-growing projects the Farm & Garden cultivated last year and learn about how these sustainability and regenerative practices planted the seeds for what we anticipate will be an abundant 2025.
Esalen’s gratitude for the Earth runs deep beneath the mineral-rich soil that grounds the sacred land we are fortunate to reside upon. Some aspects of this might be more obvious — the Farm & Garden and Esalen Kitchen feed seekers from guests to faculty and staff. We have successfully shifted our culture and committed to no longer using single-use plastics on property. The solar panels that decorate the Lodge rooftop and the behavioral switch of all to mindfully use our precious water both within accommodations and in shared spaces are valuable steps toward demonstrating our love for this fragile planet. But the roots of sustainability extend much deeper. Thinking holistically is key in our approach, and weaving these values throughout the landscape of what we do is much like a mycelial network.
Whether your stay at Esalen is a few months long or a weekend, leading a value-driven lifestyle has great potential to inspire a trickle-down effect and encourage our fellow seekers near and far to do the same. This spread of great environmental and planetary potential has been a part of the Esalen ethos since the organization’s inception in 1962.
So, what does this look like as Esalen continues to grow and transform? How do we (this includes you!) harness, organize, and elevate these pieces of the global puzzle to collectively make a deeper impact within the Esalen community and beyond?
The visible pieces surround our daily operations through the innovative Farm & Garden, our sustainably-minded kitchen, and the heart-forward CABinS teams. Perhaps lesser known are our growing educational opportunities weaved into our workshop programming here on property: our temporarily-paused, historic and signature Live Extended Education Program (LEEP) month-long and two-week offerings, our live workshops, our Wednesday Evening Programs, and our volunteer opportunities. Another piece of this foundational web includes our passionate staff members and the greater community we are connected to outside of Esalen.
Let’s dive into what the Farm & Garden team has been working on this past year. The Farm & Garden executed on a vision and cultivated the right system to bring abundance into a nourishing reality. What looked nearly barren in early 2023 is today a thriving Eden of greens — leaves, vines, vegetables, flowers, and fruits. In 2024, they produced over 1,200 lbs of zucchini, 1,200 lbs of kale, 600 lbs of onions, 100 lbs of pumpkins, and 1,400 lbs of lettuce. Each of these plants is hand-seeded into potting soil that is cultivated onsite from Esalen’s homemade compost. All of this delicious, sustainably grown food finds its way into Esalen’s kitchen to nourish you and all during your stay.
One exciting project you’ll see as you walk through the farm is the rehabilitated hoop house, a deceptively small space. The hoop house took months of dedicated work to revitalize into a productive veggie house. Once the space inside was cleared, a cover crop using peas and oats was added to naturally increase fertility. Our decade-strong practice of homemade compost was layered to offer rich organic nutrients. The team tilled the space with our new electric tractor! A drip irrigation system was installed to conserve water resources and landscaping cloth was applied to suppress weeds and retain water. Ongoing work, including new trellises to support healthy plant growth, still continues as well. Just this season alone, the healthy hoop house has generated over 1000 lbs of cucumbers, over 400 lbs of tomatoes, and over 30 lbs of basil, and the numbers continue to grow!
As mentioned, Esalen is, through an effort spearheaded by the head of the Farm & Garden, Candice Isphording, the proud new owner of an electric tractor! We were awarded match funding to purchase a Solectrac electric tractor. Utilizing an electric vehicle on our farm offers numerous benefits. With no petroleum-based exhaust, fields are fume free, creating a healthier environment for humans around the farm and healthier foods, too. Electric motors are more energy efficient, with fewer moving parts and lower maintenance costs. The tractor, much quieter than traditional diesel models, allows nature to thrive with less noise pollution, and it can be powered by renewable energy sources. This addition is a huge win for Esalen and the earth.
One final project that kept the Farm busy this past month was the repair of Esalen’s cobb bench. Originally created by Benjamin Fahrer, this beloved gathering spot truly has become, as the Farm & Garden staff lovingly refer to it, the “heart of the garden.” Cobb comes from harvesting natural material and forming it allowing it to cure over time and harden into structure.
This type of work is only possible when heart-driven and sustainably-minded people work together. Not only are they committed to planting, tending to, harvesting, and composting all of the beautiful fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers in our Farm & Garden, but also to sharing their extensive knowledge with others who find themselves in the fields. Candice, Becca Gallagher, James House, and Theresa Rardin all taught important lessons on sustainable farming when our first two cohorts of Environmental Stewardship LEEP students had their two-week service experience with the Farm & Garden.
Minimizing our impact and protecting the environment is key to reaching our highest human potential. To love the Earth is to love oneself. We have the ability to create positive change by making mindful decisions in how we interact with the world around us. Stay tuned to learn more about how other areas of Esalen are working to create positive change for our planet!
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Shelley Dearhart is head of community engagement and environmental sustainability initiatives at Esalen.
Esalen Institute
55000 Highway 1
Big Sur, CA 93920
US: 1-831-667-3000
info@esalen.org
